Kurdistan Finance Ministry Defends Region's Budget Compliance

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Kurdistan Region issued a statement Wednesday in response to remarks by Adnan Fincan Dulaimi, first deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, who called on the federal government to halt payments to the region until full financial agreement is reached. The ministry said the Kurdistan Regional Government is prepared to reach consensus on all financial matters. It stressed that the region has fulfilled its obligations under Law No. 6 of 2019 on financial management and Law No. 13 of the federal budget for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The statement described as surprising the separation of some citizens' salaries from those of others, calling such a demand particularly unexpected coming from the office of the parliament's first deputy speaker, which should be more sensitive in protecting the rights of all citizens. Fincan said Tuesday that the federal government should make no payments to Kurdistan until full agreement is achieved, based on the budget law and a joint report from financial oversight bodies in Baghdad and the region. No further details were immediately available.